Required Equipment- What is yours?

[vetteguy53081]

As many of us become seasoned in the hobby, we begin to add certain equipment and components to " Our Must Haves".
This is not a debate about what equipment is necessary, BUT " what you have found necessary and why" ?

For me: Controller, Algae scrubber which as reduced and kept my nitrates and phosphates from being elevated, UV sterilizer as I have Many fish in my tank and it reduces/prevents algae and disease and also my water mixing station which provides constant ready to use supply of RO and Salt mixed water

 

[Troylee]

Rodi, flow, light, skimmer… nothing else.

 

[flashsmith]

Lights are a given. Every tank has them. Would be ATO for me. Gotta keep things stable

 

[iamacat]

Fleece roller
Avast Marine Swabbie and Skim Locker

consistency and less demand on me

 

[RedoubtReef]

It may not technically be 'equipment' but I'm going with a refugium.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It may not technically be 'equipment' but I'm going with a refugium.

That qualifies. Irt serves a function and a must have for many

 

[doubleshot00]

I couldn't live without an Apex now on my big system. I wanted to add them to my nanos but i know my compulsive behavior would care to much about them. Like look at the ph, look at the temp all the time, then freaking out about the orp.

So i opted not to use them.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

RODI that way I don't have to keep driving to the fish store every time I need water

 

[Acros]

Milwaukee digital salinity meter. I can never read the handheld refractometers and found myself putting off water changes before I bought a Milwaukee.

 

[Stephen8169301]

A tds meter i feel is very important so you know what you water your mixing in also a few ways to measure tank temp

 

[doubleshot00]

Milwaukee digital salinity meter. I can never read the handheld refractometers and found myself putting off water changes before I bought a Milwaukee.

Yes this is my second thing i couldn't live without.

 

[Gtinnel]

For me it is an ATO, Skimmer, and AWC. I will never go back to rolling brute cans of water across the house.
An apex controller with trident and dos are getting very close to making the list for me also.

 

[AydenLincoln]

My Apex and my Hanna Salinity Refractometer are my favorite must-haves!

 

[jda]

Float valve, RODI unit and trash can - always with 50g of RODI on hand. Couple of skimmers, refractometer, return pump, flow pumps, calcium reactor, heaters and a Ranco. Alk test kit. Few light timers. Mature sandbed as a functioning piece of the tank - my way to control diseases. If I start a new tank, I must have all of these things.

Things that I like - mixing station and pump from RODI reservoir. Tunze ATO. Tunze magnet scrapers. Calcium test kit.

Things that I have no use for - controller, besides temp. Anything to do with pH. Most other test kits.

 

[vetteguy53081]

RODI that way I don't have to keep driving to the fish store every time I need water

I was there and afraid of using RO unit and got tired of filling 5 gallon jugs and bit the bullet- shame on me for not getting RODI unit sooner.
Now I have an RODI /mixing station ( I have another larger system in storage)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I was there and afraid of using RO unit and got tired of filling 5 gallon jugs and bit the bullet- shame on me for not getting RODI unit sooner.
Now I have an RODI /mixing station ( I have another larger system in storage)

View attachment 3133703

That is one impressive RODI Station

 

[billyocean]

Aside from the obvious..an ato is the only "must have" IMO.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Lights are a given. Every tank has them. Would be ATO for me. Gotta keep things stable

I want to add ATO, but am nervous about overfilling. What setup do you recommend? (I have an Apex and a DOS)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I want to add ATO, but am nervous about overfilling. What setup do you recommend? (I have an Apex and a DOS)

I like Smart ATO

 

[exnisstech]

Rodi, mixing station, and ato are my only must haves not counting the obvious like lights and flow. Lights and powerheads that can be controlled via an app are darn close to a must have for me now that I've gotten used to having that feature but I could get by without the feature if I had to.